Project Description

431 Bowen Island Trunk Road (shown on map) is the site of the Union Steamship Marina. The marina has applied to amend the Land Use Bylaw for permission to build up to 6 floating buildings and up to 16 dwelling units to house marina staff. The buildings would be governed by a Housing Agreement requiring that the units be available for Bowen workers from May to September.

More information at Municipal Hall

The proposed bylaw and background material may be viewed on this page below, or at Municipal Hall between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday (excluding statutory holidays).

That Bylaw No. 461, 2018 cited as “Bowen Island Municipality Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002, Amendment Bylaw No 461, 2018” be read a second time as amended; and

That Council direct staff to prepare a draft Housing Agreement and Sewer Covenant based on the conditions outlined in the January 18, 2019 report from the Manager of Planning and Development, for consideration prior to Public Hearing.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

November 13, 2018 – Regular Council Meeting

RES#18-463

It was Moved and Seconded

That Council rescind First and Second Reading of Bylaw No. 461, 2018 cited as “Bowen Island Municipality Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002, Amendment Bylaw No 461, 2018";

That Bylaw No. 461, 2018 be read a first time as amended;

That Council refer Bylaw No. 461 to the Islands Trust, the Advisory Planning Commission, the Housing Advisory Committee, and the Snug Cove Sewer Local Management Committee; and

That Council direct staff to report back at second reading to address Council’s concerns relating to sewage management and treatment for the proposed units.

July 23, 2018 – Regular Council Meeting

RES#18-344

It was Moved and Seconded

That Bylaw No. 461, 2018 cited as “Bowen Island Municipality Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002, Amendment Bylaw No 461, 2018” be read a second time as amended; and

That Council refer Bylaw No. 461, 2018 to a Public Hearing.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

April 23, 2018 – Regular Council Meeting

RES#18-182

It was Moved and Seconded

That the Manager of Planning and Development be directed to amend Bylaw 461, 2018 to remove Bowen Island Municipality Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 Amendment Bylaw No. 399, 2015-Schedule A.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RES#18-183

It was Moved and Seconded

That the Manager of Planning and Development be directed to amend Bylaw 461, 2018, Item 3.2 a. “Maximum number of float duplexes” to six (6) and Item 3.2 b. “Maximum number of dwelling units in float duplexes” to twelve (12).

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

RES#18-184

It was Moved and Seconded

That Bylaw No. 461, 2018 cited as “Bowen Island Municipality Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002, Amendment Bylaw No 461, 2018” be read a first time;

That Council refer Bylaw No. 461 2018 to the Islands Trust, The Advisory Planning Commission, the Economic Development Committee, and Vancouver Coastal Health; and

That Council direct the applicant to hold a public open house to receive public input with regard to these bylaws prior to consideration of second reading of Bylaw No. 461, 2018.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

October 10, 2017 – Regular Council Meeting

RES#17-360

It was Moved and Seconded

That Council refer application RZ-02-2017 to the Advisory Planning Commission and the Economic Development Committee; and

That Council direct staff to prepare a bylaw to amend the Land Use Bylaw to allow for the development proposal presented by Mr. Rondy Dike outlined in the October 10, 2017 meeting.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

Committee Resolutions

October 13, 2017 – Excerpt from the Economic Development Meeting Minutes

Daniel Martin, Island Community Planner, provided a council report,Council referral resolution, referral letter and presentation regarding rezoning and OCP amendment application for 431 Bowen Island Trunk Road. The applicant was applying to amend the Water Commercial (WC) 1(a) (Marina) zoning to allow an increase from three to nine floating homes.

Discussion ensued relevant to:

Being clear about rental restrictions in the Housing Agreement and Tenancy Agreement

Rental rates would be regulated by owner’s motivation to house staff

Potential for renter vulnerability when employer and landlord are the same

Industrial Camps Regulations Law under the Health Act could also inform agreements in addition to the Residential Tenancy Act

The Committee provided the following comments to staff:

That tenants be employees of Bowen based businesses: at the USSC Marina or other Bowen businesses

That the rental rates be affordable and capped in relation to Metro Vancouver or be linked to wages by a percentage calculation

That there be a possible mix of free market and restricted rental

That conversion to commercial in the future be prohibited

That local workers are hired to build where possible

May 23, 2018 – Advisory Planning Commission

It was Moved and Seconded

That the Advisory Planning Commission support the allowance of up to six additional floating buildings containing up to 12 units at 431 Bowen Island Trunk Road with the following recommendation:

That construction, should the rezoning be successful, include application for a building permit and compliance with the BC Float Home Standards including compliance with the current version of the BC Building Code. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

It was Moved and Seconded
That the Advisory Planning Commission recommend that the proponent of the 431 Bowen Island Trunk Road rezoning application enter into a Housing Agreement with Bowen Island Municipality which stipulates that the float home units will be for the exclusive use of Bowen Island workers from April 1st to September 30th annually; and.

That the Advisory Planning Commission support the use of the floating buildings as commercial guest accommodation through the remaining winter season.

CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

It was Moved and Seconded
That the Advisory Planning Commission recommend that BIM Bylaw 461, 2018 be amended to comply with BC Float Home Standards including the Public Health Act Sewerage System Regulation.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

December 3, 2018 - Advisory Planning Commission Meeting

It was Moved and Seconded

That the Advisory Planning Commission recommend that Council approve Bylaw 461, 2018 with the following recommendations:

That staff review the method by which building height is measured with a preference that it be measured from the deck, not the water level, for ease of consistent measuring;

That staff review whether building height limits be amended;

That staff review the possibility of alternative Building Code compliance for the construction of the floating buildings; and,

That staff amend the definition of "floating attached dwelling" to read "containing two to four dwelling units". CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

October 16, 2017 – Advisory Planning Commission

It was Moved and Seconded

That the Advisory Planning Commission support the proposed amendment to the Land Use Bylaw No. 57, 2002 to allow up to six floating buildings containing up to 12 units; and,

That the Advisory Planning Commission recommend that housing be regulated by a housing agreement that specifies that units are primarily staff housing and precludes the use as short-term vacation rentals. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY